Accidents and Incidents
Definitions
Aircraft accident: an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.
Fatal injury: Any injury which results in death within 30 days of the accident.
Incident: An occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.
Operator: means any person who causes or authorizes the operation of an aircraft, such as the owner, lessee, or bailee of an aircraft.
Serious injury: Any injury which: (1) Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days from the date of the injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves any internal organ; or (5) involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface.
Substantial damage: Damage or failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft
The operator of any civil aircraft, shall immediately, and by the most expeditious means available, notify the nearest National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) office,1 when:
1) A serious accident occurs.
2) When the following incident occurs.
Immediate notification §830.3
(1) Flight control system malfunction or failure;
(2) Inability of any required flight crewmember to perform normal flight duties as a result of injury or illness;
(3) Failure of any internal turbine engine component that results in the escape of debris other than out the exhaust path;
(4) In-flight fire;
(5) Aircraft collision in flight;
(6) Damage to property, other than the aircraft, estimated to exceed $25,000 for repair (including materials and labor) or fair market value in the event of total loss, whichever is less.
List of Incidents
a) Reports: The operator of a civil, public or foreign aircraft shall file a report on Board Form 6120.
A report on an incident for which immediate notification is required by §830.5(a) shall be filed only as requested by an authorized representative of the Board.
Reports